r/sysadmin • u/tmp5573 • Aug 25 '15
sysadmin podcast for total beginners/junior sysadmins?
hi /r/sysadmin,
I had an idea floating around for some time for a systems administration podcast for people who are completely new to the field.
It would be somewhat focused on Unix systems administration (because that's what I'm familiar with), but would be largely agnostic to specific operating systems and technologies.
It would be mainly targeted towards people who are a) considering going into a systems administration, or b) new to systems administration, or c) junior sysadmins (i.e. Usenix SAGE Level I and below).
The podcast would not be a replacement for books, experience, training, or coursework. It would simply be a supplement to the above. A sort of mentor that we all wish we had when we first started out.
I had a friend who agreed to be a co-host, and I had about 12 shows outlined, and I was in the process of getting the material together and organized. Unfortunately, my co-host had to drop out of the project, so now I'm left wondering if it's worth it going at it alone.
There are other podcasts (sort of) aimed towards systems administrators out there, but they are typically for a niche audience (specific operating system, security, networking), or assume that you know quite a bit.
So my question for you:
Would you be interested in such a podcast?
Would a podcast like this would be useful?
Please let me know what you think.
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Aug 26 '15
Wow I just listened to my first IT related podcast today on the drive home and it was shit. Not the content, it was the personalities. I had to turn it off after 20 mins, I knew more about this one guy's personal life and shitty kids than the subject. He was also talking about his awkward moments with other people while at conventions. Shut the fuck up and talk about the subject. I don't care that the nerds you met at the convention also were into some space shit like you. Not all of us are nerds. (I actually am a geek, I have an Oculus Rift and game shit out of my PC when I can but I don't talk about that shit at work) I want to learn the shit out of this system so I can move onto the next.
Stay focused on the content/subject, make real world examples, stray from the topic only briefly and I will listen.
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u/tmp5573 Aug 28 '15
just listened to my first IT related podcast today on the drive home and it was shit. Not the content, it was the personalities.
I had a very similar experience the other day when I downloaded a couple of episodes of an IT podcast (I'm always vetting the competition, haha). I was really shocked to hear the first episode was more or less the co-hosts bantering about personal stuff, it had nothing to do with IT.
Stay focused on the content/subject, make real world examples, stray from the topic only briefly and I will listen.
Will do.
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u/riahc3 Aug 26 '15
Personally, a webcast is better. You can prepare a script and and just go off that.
A podcast involves editing, several takes, editing, etc. More work for something that may or not pay off.
Then with a webcast you can also involve the audience. A 15 minute live Q&A thru Skype.
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u/tmp5573 Aug 28 '15
Personally, a webcast is better. You can prepare a script and and just go off that.
Because of my day job and other personal time commitments, I don't think a webcast would be practical for me.
A podcast involves editing, several takes, editing, etc. More work for something that may or not pay off.
I don't mind the editing, and had already planned for it.
Then with a webcast you can also involve the audience. A 15 minute live Q&A thru Skype.
Some of my favorite podcasts do this already, but like I said, this will be a more classic podcast form. But, there will be a mailing list for feedback.
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u/maj_maj-maj-maj Aug 26 '15
I'd disagree with this, if only because it sounds like it would take away my primary means of listening to it -- downloading the audio and listening in traffic. No offense intended to OP, but if I have access to Skype, I probably have access to the 62825411510 other things I need to work on online.
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u/Workadis Aug 26 '15
Could be cool;
I constantly have twitch running and follow dozens of podcasts for all sorts of topics. As a replacement for the co-host consider doing a live stream. Interacting with chat / users is a good break away that normally is reserved for the co-host. You might even find a compatible fan to recruit as co-host.
If you are really set on getting a co-host and its a beginner centric podcast keep in mind that you don't really need another technical person. Having 1 technical and 1 bubbly personality has been a recipe for success. Grab someone with limited knowledge but a curious mind and a bubbly personality. They could ask you seemingly dumb questions (not constantly as that gets annoying) which allows you to reinforce your message and cut down on dryness.
Maybe show us an outline so we can get an idea of what your strength and weaknesses will be.
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u/tmp5573 Aug 28 '15 edited Aug 28 '15
As a replacement for the co-host consider doing a live stream. Interacting with chat / users is a good break away that normally is reserved for the co-host. You might even find a compatible fan to recruit as co-host.
Thank you. I'm not inclined to do it live for multiple reasons, but I would like to find a way to include user feedback. Some podcasts I listen to do a live webstream (with a prerecorded interview), so they get live feedback on IRC which is great. I don't think I would have time for that, my schedule is kind of crazy.
If you are really set on getting a co-host and its a beginner centric podcast keep in mind that you don't really need another technical person. Having 1 technical and 1 bubbly personality has been a recipe for success.
Fantastic idea, I hadn't thought of that at all!
Maybe show us an outline so we can get an idea of what your strength and weaknesses will be.
Here's a rough outline of what I had so far:
intro - why this show/why be a sysadmin?
operating systems
text editors
shell
coding
ssh
security
backups
ethics
community (lopsa/sage/conferences)
oncall
work life balance
certification/education
upgrading boxes
cloud
debugging/problem solving/scientific method
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u/Workadis Aug 31 '15
Seems like some decent topics to cover. The sub topics and level of detail you go into will be the most interesting.
I'd probably mix in vpn with ssh and change up the order a bit for some easy referencing. Could even do grouping for more complex topics. "This month were focusing on security week 1 pros and cons for hardware and software solutions. week 2 users are the enemy etc etc"
If upgrading boxes is to cover migrations that might be a bit too advanced for a beginner cast.
Anyway, hope you end up going through with it and goodluck !
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u/sleeper1320 Aug 26 '15
Not a Jr, but I would be interested as there is a lot I don't know.
Sounds like fun. I'd be willing to represent the Windows side of the house from time to time if you were interested. I'm sure a lot of guys here would do hardware/virtualization/etc
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u/tmp5573 Aug 28 '15
Not a Jr, but I would be interested as there is a lot I don't know.
Thanks, I'm hoping that in addition to newbies, to have experienced sysadmins also on board who can chime in and help. Right now I plan on having a mailing list associated with the show for post-show discussions, so hopefully the senior sysadmins can share their experiences as well.
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u/wreck_it_rahj Aug 26 '15
I had a similar idea, except as a simple blog. I snatched up sysadminjr.com and started a Wordpress site. The next step is figuring out content. I'm a Jr. myself so that's been a little difficult. Maybe I'm overthinking.
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u/tmp5573 Aug 28 '15
I snatched up sysadminjr.com and started a Wordpress site.
Great name!
The next step is figuring out content. I'm a Jr. myself so that's been a little difficult. Maybe I'm overthinking.
Not at all. Just start slowly adding content little by little every bit counts. At my last job, the most valuable page we had on our internal wiki was started by a very jr sysadmin titled "What I wished they had told me when I first started working here." He just put down the little things that he was supposed to know that he wished there was documentation for or someone had told him. Over the course of several years, it got fleshed out (and spun off several times in the documentation) and became quite useful.
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u/munky9002 Aug 25 '15 edited Aug 26 '15
There's podcasts about everything. Making the podcast is also basically 0 cost. There's no rule to say it can't be solo.
The typical reason to have host and co-host is to have this explanation level where one of the people knows what's going on and the other person has no clue like the audience and the other person asks the questions the audience would want to know.
I recently went to a Kevin Smith show and he thumped podcasts bigtime. I kinda consider doing a similar podcast of my experience with IT, but I suspect my usual trolling would just get me in trouble lol.
I say just do it and make like 50 episodes, 1 a week and see where it goes.
Interesting thought. I booked my vacation for november and well I can pretty much know that nothing will be scheduled for those 2 week. There's a big push toward pulling the information out of my head and knowledge transfer blah blah. Perhaps I make a podcast?
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u/tmp5573 Aug 28 '15
There's podcasts about everything. Making the podcast is also basically 0 cost. There's no rule to say it can't be solo.
It's not quite zero cost, but I do agree it's quite inexpensive with today's technology.
The typical reason to have host and co-host is to have this explanation level where one of the people knows what's going on and the other person has no clue like the audience and the other person asks the questions the audience would want to know.
Yeah, I had hoped my co-host and I would be able to riff against each other like this. Now that I'm solo, I guess I'll have to wing it.
I say just do it and make like 50 episodes, 1 a week and see where it goes.
Right now I'm planning for it every 2 or 3 weeks. Once a week is not a frequency I think I can sustain.
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u/bobbymac3952 Aug 26 '15
As someone with a B.S. in IT Management and a job in a restaurant. Yes please! Edit: use the acronym how ever you deem appropriate.
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u/7rouble Aug 26 '15
Sounds good, I take the train for 30+ minutes to work and use this time to study, usually from a book. I'd be interested to listen to some podcasts for variation.
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u/Cybersoaker Aug 26 '15
I know I would be enticed by something like that.
Theres a lot of aspects of system administration that they simply do not teach in any university degree program I know of; (operation at large scale and distributed computing, cloud computing, low level sys admin tasks, DBA type tasks, and more). There seems to be a lot shrouded in mystery for those who arent veteran sys admins.
I have always enjoyed the CSS tricks podcasts because he talks about things you would likely not learn in a classroom. I'd recommend it as a source of inspiration.
I'd also recommend weaving in security topics as well since they're an integral part of a sys admin's job.
I look forward to seeing this someday! Good luck!